Auction on 4 January 2014

The Society's annual plant auction will be held at Napier Hall on Saturday 4 January 2014. Doors open at 13:30 for registration of plants and viewing, auction by Henry Oakeley begins at 14:30. Members may bring four plants each to be auctioned, six plants per family membership.

A very Happy New Year to all our members and best wishes for enjoyable and successful orchid growing in 2014.

Christmas meeting on 7 December

The Christmas meeting will be held at Napier Hall on
Saturday 7 December, doors open at 12:30.

Angraecum sesquipedale - sometimes
called the Star of Bethlehem Orchid,
or Chirstmas Orchid

The Committee will be providing a light buffet lunch for members at a cost of £2.50 per person, to include a glass of wine. 

Derek Belcher will once again challenge members' orchid knowledge with a quiz. There will be a competitive table show as usual, and a raffle - donations of prizes are most welcome.

Places must be booked in advance.  Please advise any dietary requirements.

To book please contact Sam Hurley, tel: 07900 250247,
 e-mail: sam@ballyhurley.com

OSGB Open Autumn Show

The last show of the season will be held at Wraysbury Village Hall, Wraysbury, Middlesex, TW19 5NA on Saturday 2 November 2013.

A later start has been arranged to help members; plants for judging may be delivered and registered between 09:00 and 11:00. 

Judging will begin promptly at 11:00, doors open to the public at 10:30 and entry to the show is free. 

There is plenty of free parking nearby and refreshments will be available.  

This is an open show which means that non-members may enter plants for the competitive table show.

Please note there is no meeting at Napier Hall in November.

Orchid film preview at Kew

This autumn there is a special opportunity to see an excellent new film about orchids, highlighting their pollination and conservation biology. A pre-broadcast screening of the film will be show at the Autumn event run by Orchid Conservation International (OCI) at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

The film, Sex and Lies, is narrated by Sir David Attenborough and was filmed by Bristol based wildlife film specialists Sky Vision. The film features the jungles of Borneo, Britain's rare native orchids and the orchid growers of Writhlington School in Somerset.

VIP guests will include the wildlife film crew and many of the scientsists and growers featured in the film. The OCI event runs from 4.30pm on 13th November 2013 at the Jodrell Laboratory, RBG, Kew.

Entry is free to OCI members or costs £5.00 on the door (which includes a free OCI membership).

For more information visit www.orchidconservation.org

Welcome to Cheltenham & District Orchid Society

We are delighted to welcome the Cheltenham & District Orchid Society which recently became affiliated to the OSGB.

Cheltenham & District Orchid Society hold meetings at 19:30 on the fourth Tuesday of each month (except December) at St John's Church Hall, St John's Avenue, Churchdown, Gloucestershire, GL3 2DA.

For more information please contact Rod Wells, tel: 01684 294485, e-mail: secretary@cheltenhamorchids.org, website: www.cheltenhamorchids.org

October meeting this weekend

The October monthly meeting at Napier Hall will be held as usual, on Saturday 5th October, doors open at 13:30.

Ray Creek will be our guest lecturer, talking about successful orchid culture and growing in chipped coconut husk, and will be bringing a wide selection of plants for sale.

Please come along to display your plants on the table show, browse through a selection of books from our orchid library or just join us for refreshments and an orchid chat.

Our apologies for some problems we have been experiencing with our website, particularly on the Monthly Programme page; we hope to have them resolved soon.

Successful weekend for 3rd Durham Orchid Show

The OSGB was pleased to support the 3rd Durham Orchid show last weekend by staging an educational display and co-ordinating the plant judging. Many thanks for the warm welcome and to all our members who visited the show.

Orchid Society of Great Britain display

Dimorphorchis rossii 'Sue'

The Society was most grateful to those who lent plants for the display, in particular Sue Lane who offered her unusual Dimorphorchis rossii 'Sue', which formed the centrepiece of the display and was awarded a Botanical Certificate by the RHS Orchid Committee .

Around 1,500 visitors  enjoyed displays by seven societies, four of them affiliated to the OSGB, and were able to browse through a good selection of orchids offered by a wide range of traders.

The 4th Durham Orchid Show will be staged as a one-day show on 7th September 2014.

                                     

                                  Darlington & District Orchid Society - Winner of Best Display in Show

Cumbria Orchid Society display

North East of England Orchid Society display

Scottish Orchid Society Display

Seminar for new members

Members who have joined the society since last August are invited to our free introductory seminar on Saturday 3rd August 2013 (places must be booked in advance).

This seminar is designed to welcome members to the society and introduce them to some of the committee and other members in an informal and friendly atmosphere. It will be held at Napier Hall, 1 Hide Place, Westminster, London SW1P 4NJ, before our monthly meeting. Doors open for tea and coffee at 09:30 with the seminar beginning at 10:00.

The seminar will include:
A general lecture about orchids from our new President, Peter White
A lecture about growing orchids in the home by our Programme Secretary, Francis Quesada-Pallarés
An introduction to several types of orchid and a potting demonstration by our Chairman, Roy White
A hands-on repotting session with orchids provided, led by committee members. (The orchids you repot will be available to buy for a few pounds.)
A light, buffet lunch at 12:30 before the monthly meeting commences at 13:30

At the monthly meeting, members will have a chance to look through a selection of books from our library; admire members' orchids on display on our table show; enjoy more tea and coffee; and hear our guest lecturer, Bala Kompalli, who will talk about field trips in the Western Himalayas.

Please book your place by 20th July, by contacting Sam Hurley, tel: 07900 250247 or e-mail: sam@ballyhurley.com (Please advise regarding any special dietary requirements).

Please contact Sam Hurley if you have any queries about the seminar or the society.

 

Changes in the Vandeae

Orchid Hybrid Registration Advisory Group News Release  May 2013


At a meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society’s Orchid Hybrid Registration Group (OHRAG) in London on 22^nd May, the proposed nomenclatural changes in the Vandeae were discussed. The Group were privileged to receive seminar presentations by André Schuiteman and Lauren Gardiner, both from the Kew Herbarium, on their research into the taxonomy of the Vandeae.

A full account is due to be published in volume 6 of Genera Orchidacearum which is scheduled for publication in February 2014, and is the final volume of the series.

The members of the Advisory Group unanimously recommended adoption of the following changes in the Hybrid Register immediately.

Vanda is to be expanded to include: Ascocentropsis, Ascocentrum, Christensonia, Eparmatostigma, Euanthe, Neofinetia and Trudelia

Aerides flabellata has been transferred to Vanda

Papilionanthe is to be accepted as distinct from Vanda

Arachnis to include: Armodorum and Esmeralda

Gastrochilus to include: Haraella

Holcoglossum to include: Ascolabium and Penkimia

Phalaenopsis to include: Doritis, Kingidium, Lesliea, Nothodoritis, Ornithochilus and Sedirea

Renanthera to include: Ascoglossum, Porphyrodesme, and Renantherella

Robiquetia to include: Abdominea, Malleola, India, Megalotus and Samarorchis

Trichoglottis to include: Ceratochilus, Staurochilus and Ventricularia.

In the past it has been the custom to await publication of the relevant volume of Genera Orchidacearum and wait for six months to allow discussion, before implementing any nomenclatural changes. On this occasion however, it seemed appropriate for implementation to proceed due to the uncontroversial nature of the changes, and in order to have all the changes in place before data is extracted from the register to prepare the forthcoming Sanders List Addendum. It is hoped this will prevent unnecessary delay in publication of the Addendum. In addition, Doritis and x Doritaenopsis have already been moved into Phalaenopsis.

New President for the OSGB

Members voted unanimously for Peter White as the society's new presdient at its AGM on 1st June.

Peter has been a member of the society since 1984 and helped in many ways over the years - most recently with the Chelsea exhibit. He is the owner of Orchids by Peter White, was Chairman of the British Orchid Growers Association until last year and is a member of the RHS Orchid Committee.

Peter offered thanks on behalf of the members to outgoing president Henry Oakeley, and commended him for his work as an ambassador for the society, ably representing it both in this country and on his travels around the world.

Gold for the OSGB and Oman at Chelsea

The society's display, sponsored by the Sultanate of Oman Ministry fof Tourism, at the 2013 Centenary Chelsea Flower Show was awarded a Gold medal by the RHS.

Designers Sam Hurley and Val Micklewright with the society's Chelsea Gold medal

Designers Val Micklewright and Sam Hurley are incredibly proud to have won a Gold medal for their first Chelsea exhibit and are grateful to all the OSGB members who contributed to the display which continues to uphold the society's high standards.

The display is created by a large group of volunteer orchid enthusiasts who wish to promote and share their passion for these beautiful plants.  The addition this year of an educational element in the form of information panels along the front of the exhibit was highly commended by RHS judges and of great interest to the thousands of Chelsea visitors.

The OSGB's 2013 Chelsea display which celebrates 100 years of orchid growing

This year the exhibit showcased some unusual terrestrial orchids, including Eulophia guineensis which is native to the Sultanate of Oman and the society would like to thank The Sultanate of Oman Ministry of Tourism for their support with the display.

Eulphia guineensis is native to the Sultanate of Oman, sponsor of this year's display

OSGB, Oman and orchids - celebrating 100 years of Chelsea

From suffragettes and corsages to near extinction and cloning, the Orchid Society of Great Britain’s educational floral exhibit, sponsored by the Sultanate of Oman Ministry of Tourism, will explore the changes in orchid growing over the past one hundred years to celebrate the centenary of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

The OSGB's 2013 Chelsea begins to take shape  

History
1913 – Suffragettes attacked the orchid houses at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in protest at the male dominated world of horticulture.

2013 – Two female members of the Orchid Society of Great Britain will design its exhibit for the flagship show of the RHS, a society which has a female president.

Designers
Val Micklewright – Hon. Sec. of the society, designer of many displays at other shows since joining in 1991, and Sam Hurley – editor of the society’s quarterly OSGB Journal, who joined in 2009.


Unique plant supply
Unlike other exhibitors, the society’s designers can only plan so far – they do not know which plants their members will be able to lend until a few days before the show opens. Most of the plants exhibited are grown by members, friends and affiliates of the society and each year they demonstrate their expertise by providing exceptional plants for the exhibit. This is the 53rd time, since its founding in 1951, that the society has exhibited at the RHS Chelsea Flower show.



Masdevallia veitchiana

Competition

The society holds a competition each year to find the most popular orchid

on its display; a cup is presented to the owner of the winning plant.

A regular winner has been Masdevallia veitchiana, favourite orchid of
Sir Harry Veitch, the great nurseryman and orchid enthusiast who was one
of the founding fathers of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

All visitors entering the competition will have their names put into a free prize
draw to win £100 worth of orchids to celebrate 100 years of Chelsea ( to be
drawn on 1st June 2013).



Sponsorship
The society is delighted to welcome sponsorship from the Sultanate of Oman Ministry of Tourism. Oman’s diverse landscape includes 3,165 kilometresof pristine, sandy Indian ocean beaches, magnificent desert expanses, majestic fjords in Musandam in the far north, the striking Hajar Mountains, and the lush green valleys of Dhofar, in the south.


Medicinal orchids 

Eulophia guineensis

A number of orchids are native to Oman, including Epipactis, Eulophia, Habenaria and Nervilia. Eulophia guineensis and Eulophia petersii are both used medicinally.

Eulophia guineensis grows in the tropical highlands in southern Oman,
and has attractive pink and white flowers with the extravagant ‘lip’, which
is characteristic of most orchids.

A new Botanic Garden is being created near Muscat, Oman’s capital,
and will endeavour to display the entire flora of the Sultanate, including
its native orchids.


Orchids – rare, exotic and hard to grow?
Over 25,000 species– not all are rare
95% native to the Tropics – most are certainly exotic
Easy to grow – many modern hybrids are much easier to grow


Changes in orchid growing
Different orchids have risen and fallen in popularity over the past century. Cool-growing orchids such as Cymbidium, which once thrived in our houses, before central heating and double glazing arrived, have given way to warm-growing Phalaenopsis which used to be considered impossible to grow.

Orchid growing often reflects the changing fashions and trends within society. Flamboyant orchid corsages, the de rigeur accessory of days gone by, have been replaced by easy-to-grow modern hybrids which adorn our homes and offices today.

Hinckley & District Orchid Society Annual Show report by Keith Bates

On one of the worst days of the winter the society staged its annual show in Hinckley . Although three societies were snowed in, we were treated to a colourful show at the end of March.

The North of England Orchid Society and East Midlands Orchid Society provided us with spectacular displays of orchids at their very best, closely followed by smaller displays from the Lincolnshire Orchid Group and Solihull & District Orchid Society.

Our own display was in the form of a ruined temple in the jungle with over 80 plants displayed among the stone of the temple and a dried up stream bed among fern and tropical plants supplied by a local garden centre.  The best plant on our display was grown by our oldest member, George Cope. His Rhynchostylis gigantea was a superb plant with two large spikes.

Hinckley & District Orchid Society's display at their annual show
(Photo by Keith Bates)

Publicity for OSGB in The Independent

The RHS London Orchid Show received an enthusiastic write-up in last Sunday's Independent magazine.

To view the article and an excellent photograph of camera-shy OSGB stand designer André Roux visit:

http://www.independent.co.uk/property/gardening/orchid-fever-enter-the-exotic-world-of-britains-favourite-pot-plantsand-their-owners-8599857.html

2013 Photographic and Art Competition - Saturday 1st June

This competition will be held on Saturday 1st June 2013 in conjunction with the Annual General Meeting at Napier Hall. The revised schedule of rules and classes below will apply.

Doors will open at 12:30; all entries must be registered on arrival and should be in place by 13:30. Members are asked to label the reverse of their entries with their name, and the name of the plant (if known).

Please read the revised schedule which can be found on the About Us page of the website.

Raby Castle Orchid Show 4th - 6th May 2013

Visit the Raby Castle Orchid Show over the Bank Holiday weekend to see beautiful orchid exhibits by various societies, including the OSGB. There will be a wide selection of orchids for sale from a variety of international traders.

Members and visitors alike will be given a warm welcome at the OSGB exhibit by Kim Solomon, our Advertising Secretary, who is representing the Society and has created this elegant display.
                                                                     

OSGB display at Raby Castle Orchid Show

                                                                          

Kim Solomon, Chris Barker, Rachel, Dick Warren and Lord Barnard, owner of Raby Castle

Raby Castle Orchid Show, Staindrop, Darlington, Co. Durham, DL2 3AH, open 11:00-17:00

Sponsorship from the Sultanate of Oman for Chelsea




Eulophia guineensis grows in the
mountain forests of Oman

 The Society is delighted to welcome sponsorship from the Sultanate of Oman Ministry of Tourism for this year's Chelsea exhibit. A beautiful and exotic country, Oman has much to offer those wishing to explore its native flora and fauna, along with a wide variety of diverse experiences for its visitors.

A number of orchids are native to Oman, including Eulophia guineensis, Eulophia petersii, Habenaria myodes and Habenaria malacophylla.

For thousands of years orchids have captivated mankind with their exotic beauty but they have also been believed to have medicinal, almost magical, properties. Eulophia guineensis and Eulophia petersii are both used medicinally. The pseudobulbs are broken off at the base and this broken end is heated in a fire until blackened and the sap starts to flow. This sap is rubbed over skin complaints and sores, eczema, fungal infections etc.

Habenaria myodes and Habenaria malacophylla have edible tubers and were eaten raw or, preferably, slowly cooked. They were regarded as being ‘hunger food’ for hard times only, as they
cause inflammation and irritation.

A new Botanic Garden is being created near Muscat, Oman’s capital, and will endeavour to display the entire flora of the Sultanate, including
native orchids such as Eulophia guineensis. This orchid has attractive
pink and white flowers with the extravagant ‘lip’, or modified petal,
which is characteristic of most orchids.

For further information about tourism in the Sultanate of Oman,
please visit: www.omantourism.gov.om

Westonbirt Medal presented to David Martin

David Martin was presented with the 2012 Westonbirt Medal by the RHS during the London Orchid Show. This is awarded for the best specimen plant shown to the RHS Orchid Committee during the year and was given to his Cymbidium Sweet Devon 'Sweet' (suave x devonianum) CCC/RHS. The plant was awarded a Certificate of Cultural Commendation at the time; it measured an impressive one metre in diameter and displayed nineteen pendent flower spikes.

Cymbidium Sweet Devon 'Sweet' CCC/RHS

Mr and Mrs David Martin
Photo by Johan Hermans

Gold medal at the London Orchid Show

The OSGB has won a Gold Medal at the 2013 RHS London Orchid Show.

André Roux and his team's creation represented a waterfall cascading down a steep cliff-face covered in colourful orchid species and hybrids, leading into a river which meandered amongst groups of beautiful blooms towards a mossy island.

Build in under two days, the display consisted of a wonderful selection of members plants. Many thanks to all those who lent plants, helped to organise and build the display and staff the information table at the show.

Visit the London Orchid and Botanical Art show at the RHS Halls, 12-13 April, 10am-5pm, admission: RHS members £5.00, non-members £8.00, website: www.rhs.org.uk/londonshows

New trophy to be awarded at Spring Show at RHS Garden Wisley - 16 March

The Spring Show will take place in the Glasshouse Gallery at RHS Garden Wisley on Saturday 16 March, 10:30-16:00, in conjunction with the month-long Wisley Orchid Event which opens that day.

All are welcome and 55 free entry tickets to the Garden will be available to OSGB members (on presentation of their membership card) at the front entrance on a first come, first served basis (9am-12pm), through the Society's affiliation with the RHS.

The newly donated Solomon Trophy will be awarded for the first time for the best windowsill-grown plant.

Plants for judging brought to the Glasshouse Gallery between 08:00 and 08:45. Members wishing to enter their plants should send a list of the plants and the classes they wish to enter to Dusha Hayes, Chair of the Judging Subcommittee, by post or e-mail a few days before the show. This will help with advance preparation of show tables. Alterations and new entries will still be accepted on the day.

All plants being brought for the show will be inspected to check that they are healthy and clear of pests; suspect plants may be denied entry. Please ensure you allow enough time for this.

Directions to the Glasshouse Gallery can be found on page 18 of the Annual Supplement to the Journal. For the main entrance, follow the brown signs to RHS Garden Wisley.

Full details of the show's schedule can be found on page 10 of the Annual Supplement. The following schedule will be used for the 2013 Spring Show, which is open to non-members:

Any plant entered in classes 1 to 48 must have been in the entrants’ possession for at least 12 months.

Section A
Plants in Classes 1–24 may be judged within Class 50 on request to the judges.

1. 1 Laeliinae species eg Barkeria, Brassavola, Cattleya, Encyclia, Epidendrum, Guarianthe, Mexican Laelia, etc.
2. 1 Laeliinae hybrid, including intergenerics.
3. 1 Cymbidium species.
4. 1 Cymbidium hybrid.
5. 1 Dendrobium species.
6. 1 Dendrobium hybrid.
7. 1 Oncidiinae species eg Ada, Brassia, Miltonia, Oncidium, etc.
8. 1 Oncidiinae hybrid, including intergenerics.
9. 1 Paphiopedilum species.
10. 1 Paphiopedilum hybrid.
11. 1 Phragmipedium species.
12. 1 Phragmipedium hybrid.
13. 1 Phalaenopsis species, including plants previously known as Doritis.
14. 1 Phalaenopsis hybrid, including intergenerics.
15. 1 Vandeae species, including Sarcanthinae, Angraecinae, Aerangidinae but excluding Phalaenopsis.
16. 1 Vandeae hybrid, including intergenerics but not those with Phalaenopsis.
17. 1 Pleurothallidinae species.
18. 1 Pleurothallidinae hybrid, including intergenerics.
19. 1 Maxillarieae species.
20. 1 Maxillarieae hybrid, including intergenerics.
21. 1 terrestrial species or hybrid (those orchids that have underground rhizomes or tubers and seasonally  have no parts above ground) eg Cynorkis, Cypripedium, Dactylorhiza, some Calanthe, Disa, Habenaria, Ophrys, etc.
22. 1 species not listed above eg Catasetum, Gongora, Coelogyne, Stanhopea, etc.
23. 1 hybrid not listed above eg Catasetum, Gongora, Coelogyne, Stanhopea, etc.
24. 1 species or hybrid to be judged for its decorative foliage only.
25. 3 Laeliinae species.
26. 3 Laeliinae hybrids, including intergenerics.
27. 3 Cymbidium species.
28. 3 Cymbidium hybrids.
29. 3 Oncidiinae species.
30. 3 Oncidiinae hybrids, including intergenerics.
31. 3 Paphiopedilum species and/or hybrids.
32. 3 Phragmipedium species and/or hybrids.
33. 3 Phalaenopsis species.
34. 3 Phalaenopsis hybrids, including intergenerics.
35. 3 terrestrial species and/or hybrids.
36. 3 Pleurothallidinae species and/or hybrids.
37. 3 Dendrobium species and/or hybrids.
38. 3 species of one genus, not listed in classes 25 to 37 eg Maxillaria, Lycaste, Coelogyne, Catasetum, Gongora, Stanhopea, etc.
39. 3 hybrids of one genus, from the genera in class 38, including intergenerics containing that genus.
40. 3 orchid plants from any of the genera in class 38, including intergenerics.
41. 4 orchid species from the same or different genera.
42. 4 orchid plants from different genera, including intergenerics.
43. 6 orchid species from the same or different genera.
44. 6 orchid species and hybrids from the same or different genera, including intergenerics.
45. 6 orchid plants of any one genus, including intergenerics containing that genus; no foliage plants to be included.
46. A group of orchids and ornamental plants space up to one square metre. Ornamental plants must not exceed 50% of the exhibit.
47. 1 species or hybrid, for an OSGB member who has not previously gained a first prize in the Society’s Spring or Autumn Shows.
48. 1 orchid species or hybrid for an OSGB member aged 21 and under.
49. 1 corsage or buttonhole (flower need not have been grown by the exhibitor).

Section B
Open class for all societies, individuals and professional growers at the Spring and Autumn Shows, including non-members of the OSGB and its Affiliated Societies.

50. A display of orchids and ornamental plants, larger than one square metre, ornamental plants must not exceed 50% of the exhibit.

Trophies to be awarded at the Spring ShowDolores Rands Trophy - 1 Laeliinae species, hybrid or intergeneric -Classes 1 and 2
Dulcie Rands Trophy - 1 Paphiopedilum species or hybrid - Classes 9, 10 and 31
Nanyang Trophy - 1 Vandeae species or hybrid - Classes 15 and 16
Joe Alderton Trophy - 3 Laeliinae species, hybrids and intergenerics - Classes 25 and 26
Woodstock Trophy - 3 Phalaenopsis species, hybrids and intergenerics - Classes 33 and 34
Dixon Trophy - 3 species of the same genus as in Class 38
BOC Trophy - 3 hybrids of one genus as in Class 39
Lampard Trophy - species from the same or different genera - Class 43
Alcock Cup - 6 mixed species, hybrids and intergenerics from different genera - Class 44
Rittershausen Challenge Trophy - 6 orchid plants - Class 45
Myers Trophy - 1 orchid species or hybrid, for first-time First prize winner in the Spring Show - Class 47
RHS Banksian Medal - To the member gaining the most First, Second and Third prizes
Sussex Shield - Three or more First prizes
Ann Shelley-Lloyd Painting - Best Cymbidium species
Sir Jeremiah Colman Bowl - Best Phalaenopsis
Leonard Page Cup - Best Oncidiinae
Pat Akehurst Trophy - Best Pleurothallidinae
Penney Trophy - Best Dendrobium
Peppe de Lullo Trophy - Best Coelogyne
Robert Elliott Cup - Best Cattleya species
Solomon Trophy - Best windowsill-grown orchid
BETOC Spring Show Cup - Hybrid made 50 or more years ago
Dorothy Pestell Cup - Best in Show

Successful trip to Ecuador and Peru

Fourteen members of the Society enjoyed a two week trip to South America in November 2012. It included a brief visit to Peru to see Machu Picchu (where the guide had to halt her tour because members were too busy photographing orchids) before proceeding to southern Ecuador.

The tour was arranged by Sally Mill through Ecuagenera and superbly guided by Alex Portilla (a member of the Ecuagenera family). Members were able to see a wide range of orchids in their natural habitat including Cattleya, Epidendrum, Oncidium and pleurothallids.

Cattleya maxima

An article about the trip should be published in the next issue of the Journal.

OSGB visit to Burnham Nurseries on 9 March 2013

The OSGB did not escape the terrible weather last autumn and unfortunately the visit to Burnham Nurseries in Newton Abbot, Devon on 24 November 2012 had to be cancelled (the railway line was washed away). However, the visit has been rescheduled for Saturday 9 March by kind invitation of Sara Rittershausen who has offered to provide lunch in Burnham’s excellent coffee shop as well as entry to their beautiful display house, Orchid Paradise, free for OSGB visitors.

Members around the country will need to make their own arrangements/bookings for travel to the nursery. However, a group will be travelling from London Paddington to Newton Abbot station and members may join this group if they wish. Taxi/minibus transfer between Newton Abbot station and Burnham Nurseries (2 miles) will be paid for/refunded by the OSGB.
Please note: it is much cheaper to buy two singles than a return ticket www.thetrainline.com

Dep: 09:06 London Paddington Arr: 11:38 Newton Abbot (£17.50)

Dep: 16:41 Newton Abbot Arr: 19:22 London Paddington (£22.00)

Prices correct at time of going to press, for single tickets bought in advance without a railcard. Tickets are much more expensive if not bought well in advance.

Members must contact Francis Quesada-Pallares by 1 March to confirm their place for lunch and/or transport to/from Newton Abbott station, tel: 07951 070637, e-mail: ols_francisjquesadapallares@hotmail.com

If you have not received an e-mail confirmation from Francis within a few days please telephone him to confirm.

OSGB plant auction on Saturday 5 January 2013

The OSGB's annual auction will be held at Napier Hall on Saturday 5 January 2013.  Doors open at 1.30pm, auction at 2.30pm. 

A wide variety of plants will be on sale, from easy-to-grow hybrids to more unusual species, and are usually sold for extremely reasonable prices.  A selection of books and orchid prints will also be auctioned.

As usual, all members will receive a warm welcome and tea, coffee and biscuits will be available.
Members are invited to bring along plants to sell (four plants per individual member, six plants per family membership). 

MBE for Simon Pugh-Jones, founder of the Writhlington School Orchid Project



Simon Pugh-Jones MBE
with Laelia anceps at Writhlington
(Photo by Joel Bates)

Simon Pugh-Jones received an MBE in the New Year's Honours list for his services to education and the orchid project.

The Writhlington School Orchid Project (WSOP) developed from an after-school gardening club founded by Simon 20 years ago. The WSOP has gone from strength to strength over the years led by Simon's infectious enthusiasm and students are now involved with orchid-related projects around the world, enjoying trips to countries such as Sikkim and Rwanda.

The project recently hosted the hugely successful 25th British Orchid Council Congress at Writhlington School in October 2012.

Simon says “This is recognition for my fantastic team of students at Writhlington who have achieved so much over the last twenty years and for all those who have supported our work both in the UK and abroad.”

Our congratulations to Simon and everyone involved with the project.

New venue for Peterborough International Orchid Show

Thanks to the enthusiasm of its committee, the International Orchid Show previously held at Peterborough has found a new home.

The show will now be held in conjunction with the successful Malvern Three Counties Show on 14, 15 and 16 June 2013. This is an increasingly popular show and it is hoped that the new location will attract exhibitors and visitors alike to the orchid show.

Unfortunately this will clash with the North East of England Orchid Society's show at Tatton Park on 16 June in 2013 but it is hoped that this can be avoided in future years.

The dedicated website will go live in early in 2013, www.malvern-ios.org